JP2010093555A - Communication device, operation key display control method and operation key display control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a communication device for updating the direction of the contents of display of a hardware key depending on the shape after a change when detecting the change of itself. <P>SOLUTION: The communication device 1 includes: a key display section 21 capable of changing the display contents; a shape detecting section 12 for detecting a change in shape of the communication device 1; and a display control section 11 for updating the direction of the display contents depending on the shape after change of the communication device 1 when the shape detecting section 12 detects the change. With this configuration, when the change of the shape of itself is detected, the direction of the display contents of a hardware key can be changed in accordance with the shape after the change. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a communication device that controls display of an operation key including a display unit, and an operation key display control method for such a communication device.

  In recent years, portable information terminals such as PDAs and smartphones have become widespread among users who want to use information terminals when they go out. In addition, tablet PCs that are assumed to be used at work sites have also become widespread among companies and the like that are trying to improve work efficiency.

  Many of these devices such as PDAs, smartphones, and tablet PCs include a touch panel display unit. In many of these devices, a software keyboard is installed, and the user can input characters via the software keyboard instead of the keyboard having a physical mechanism.

  However, when using the software keyboard, the display of the software keyboard occupies a part of the screen, or the user does not feel much operation even when tapping the software keyboard on the touch panel. There are various problems such as that it takes time to process.

In order to solve these problems, a keyboard having a display function on a key top has been developed. Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic device that includes the above-described keyboard, detects its own orientation, and changes the content displayed on the key top in accordance with the orientation. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228867 discloses a keyboard that includes an LED in the key top portion and switches the LED display of the key top portion (to kana or alphanumeric) based on a selected input character system (such as kana mode or alphanumeric mode). Is disclosed. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a keyboard in which a key top has a display function, and each key is provided with an elastic member that gives an operational feeling.
JP 2004-260592 A (published September 16, 2004) JP 60-93713 A (published May 25, 1985) JP2003-303526A (released on October 24, 2003)

  However, when the keyboard described in Patent Document 2 or Patent Document 3 is applied to a terminal such as a mobile phone capable of taking a plurality of shapes, the shape is changed when the user changes the shape of the mobile phone. In response, the mobile phone may be operated with its orientation changed. However, even if the orientation of the mobile phone is changed, the key top display does not change, which causes a problem that it is difficult to confirm the display content of the key top.

  In addition, although the electronic device described in Patent Document 1 detects its own orientation and changes the content displayed on the key top in accordance with the orientation, it has an acceleration sensor to detect its own orientation, so the circuit is complicated. There is a problem of becoming.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to include a hard key (operation key) that can change the display content, and when a change is detected, according to the shape after the change, An object of the present invention is to realize a communication device that updates the direction of display content.

  It is also within the scope of the object of the present invention to realize such an operation key display control method for a communication apparatus and an operation key display control program for operating the communication apparatus.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the communication device of the present invention is a communication device including a hard key that can change display content and a detection unit that detects a change in the shape of the hard key.
When the detection unit detects the change, the detection unit includes a display control unit that updates the direction of the display content in accordance with the shape after the change.

  According to said structure, a communication apparatus updates the direction of the display content of a hard key according to the shape after the change which the detection means detected. That is, the communication device can change the direction of the display content to a preset direction on the assumption that the user can easily confirm the display content of the key according to its shape. The detection means can be realized by a simple open / close detection switch or the like.

  Therefore, the communication device has an effect that the user can easily grasp the key to be pressed without providing a complicated circuit.

  The communication device includes a first housing having the hard keys and a display unit, and a second housing movable in a direction substantially parallel to the first housing. When the detection means detects that the second casing has moved in the substantially parallel direction to the open state, the display control means changes the direction of the display content to the moving direction of the second casing. It is desirable to change to Here, the open state is a state in which the distance between the center of gravity of the first housing and the center of gravity of the second housing is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance value.

The operation key display control method according to the present invention is an operation key display control method for a communication device including a hard key capable of changing display contents and a detecting means for detecting a change in its own shape in order to solve the above-described problem. There,
When the detection means detects the change, it includes a display control step of updating the direction of the display content according to the shape after the change.

  According to said structure, there exists an effect similar to the communication apparatus of this invention.

  The communication device may be realized by a computer. In this case, an operation key display control program for realizing the communication device in the computer by operating the computer as each of the above means falls within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the communication device according to the present invention includes a hard key that can change the display content, a detection unit that detects a change in its own shape, and displays a hard key according to the changed shape when the change is detected. Display control means for updating the direction of contents.

  Thereby, the communication apparatus updates the direction of the display content of the hard key according to its shape. Therefore, the communication apparatus changes the direction of the display content according to the shape of the communication device to a preset direction on the assumption that the user can easily confirm the display content of the key, without having a complicated circuit. There is an effect that the user can easily grasp the key to be pressed.

  A communication device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  The communication device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a mobile phone, a PDA, or other information terminal that has a plurality of identifiable shapes and can determine which shape is the current shape. Can be mentioned.

(Configuration of communication device 1)
A main configuration of the communication device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication device 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The communication device 1 includes a control unit 10, an operation input unit 20, and a display unit 30. The function of each member will be described below.

(Control unit 10)
The control unit 10 controls each member of the display control unit 11, the shape detection unit 12, and the instruction detection unit 13.

(Display control unit 11)
The display control unit 11 controls display contents displayed on the display unit 30 and the key display unit 21.

(Shape detection unit 12)
The shape detection unit 12 determines which shape (shape type) is the current shape among a plurality of shapes that can be identified by the communication device 1 and can be identified.

(Instruction detection unit 13)
The instruction detection unit 13 detects an instruction input via the operation input unit 20.

(Operation input unit 20)
The operation input unit 20 is an input device for a user to input instructions, and includes a predetermined number of operation keys. As shown in FIG. 2, a key display unit is provided above each operation key (key top). 21 is provided.

(Key display unit 21)
The key display unit 21 displays an image corresponding to the image signal sent from the display control unit 11.

(Display unit 30)
The display unit 30 displays an image corresponding to the image signal sent from the display control unit 11.

(Operation of communication device 1)
Next, the operation of the communication apparatus 1 for updating the direction in which an image is displayed on the key display unit 21 according to its current shape, which is performed after the power is turned on until the power is turned off, will be described with reference to FIG. Will be described below. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication apparatus 1.

  First, when the power is turned on, the shape detection unit 12 detects the type of shape of the communication device 1 (S1). Next, in accordance with the detected type, the display control unit 11 is set in advance assuming that the user can easily confirm the display content of the key display unit 21 when the shape of the communication device 1 is a shape related to the type. In this direction, the image is displayed on the key display unit 21 (S2).

  Next, the instruction detection unit 13 determines whether or not a power-off instruction is input via the operation input unit 20 (S3). If entered (YES in S3), the process is terminated. If NO in S3, the process proceeds to S4.

  The shape detection unit 12 detects the shape type of the communication device 1 again (S4). Then, the shape detection unit 12 compares the shape type detected in S4 with the shape type detected last time based on the detection time point in S4, and determines whether or not the shape has changed (S5). If the shape detection unit 12 determines that the shape has not changed (NO in S5), the process returns to S3.

  When the shape detection unit 12 determines that the shape has changed (YES in S5), it is assumed that the display control unit 11 can easily confirm the display content of the key display unit 21 according to the type of shape detected in S4. The image is displayed on the key display unit 21 in a preset orientation (S6). Then, the process returns to S3.

(Direction set in advance assuming that the displayed content is easy to check)
A specific example will be described in detail as to what orientation is set in advance assuming that the display content can be easily confirmed. FIG. 4 shows a cellular phone device (communication device) 1a that takes two shapes, shape A (FIG. 4A) and shape B (FIG. 4B).

  In general, when a user operates the mobile phone device 1a, the mobile phone device 1a is arranged in front of the user, and the operation input unit 20 is positioned in front of the display unit 30 when viewed from the user. It is considered that the operation is started after changing the direction of 1a. Therefore, when the shape of the mobile phone device 1a is the shape A, the image is displayed on the key display unit 21 so that the side (point) closest to the side 100 is at the bottom. When the shape of the cellular phone device 1 a is the shape B, the image is displayed on the key display unit 21 with the side (point) closest to the side 101 as the lower part.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a direction set in advance assuming that it is easy to confirm the display contents will be described. FIG. 5 shows a sliding mobile phone device (communication device) 1b including a housing (housing A) having a numeric keypad 20a and a display unit 30 and a housing (housing B) having a QUERY keyboard 20b. Two shapes, a shape C (FIG. 5A) and a shape D (FIG. 5B), can be taken. The shape C is a shape in a state where the housing B is not pulled out, and the shape D is a shape in a state where the housing B is pulled out (open state moved in a direction substantially parallel to the housing A). is there.

  Similar to the cellular phone device 1a of FIG. 4, when the user operates the sliding cellular phone device 1b, the user places the sliding cellular phone device 1b in front of the user and displays the operation input unit 20 as viewed from the user. It is considered that the operation is started after the direction of the sliding mobile phone device 1b is changed so as to be in front of the unit 30. Therefore, when the shape of the sliding mobile phone device 1b is the shape C, the image is displayed on the key display unit 21 so that the side (point) closest to the side 102 is at the bottom.

  On the other hand, when the shape of the slide type mobile phone device 1b is the shape D, the operation input unit 20 includes the numeric keypad portion 20a and the QUERY keyboard portion 20b, but the user shapes the shape of the slide type mobile phone device 1b. It is considered that D is used when the QUERY keyboard unit 20b is mainly used. Accordingly, when the user operates the sliding mobile phone device 1b, the sliding mobile phone device 1b is disposed in front of the user, and the QUERY keyboard unit 20b is positioned in front of the display unit 30 when viewed from the user. It is considered that the operation is started after the direction of the sliding mobile phone device 1b is changed. Accordingly, when the shape of the sliding mobile phone device 1b is changed from the shape C to the shape D, the direction (in the moving direction of the housing B with respect to the housing A) is set so that the side (point) closest to the side 103 becomes the lower portion. Instead, the image is displayed on the key display unit 21.

(Advantages of the communication device 1)
In the communication device 1 according to the present embodiment, when the shape detection unit 12 detects a change in the shape of the communication device 1 by detecting the shape type of the communication device 1 at constant or different time intervals, the display control unit 11 However, according to the changed shape, the direction in which the image is displayed on the key display unit 21 can be changed to a preset direction on the assumption that the user can easily confirm the display content of the key display unit 21. .

  Therefore, the communication device 1 can make the user easily grasp the key to be pressed without providing a complicated circuit using an acceleration sensor or the like.

(Additional notes)
In the above embodiment, when the change in the shape of the communication device 1 is detected, the display control unit 11 updates the direction in which an image is displayed on the key display unit 21 according to the changed shape. However, in addition to updating the display direction of the image according to the shape after the change, the display content may be changed (an image different from the image displayed before the change may be displayed). .

  Moreover, the element which comprises the key display part 21 may be a liquid crystal element, and may be an organic EL element.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

(Program, recording medium)
Finally, each block included in the communication device 1 may be configured by hardware logic. Alternatively, as described below, the control unit 10 may be realized by software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

  In other words, the communication device 1 only needs to record the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the control program that implements each function of the control unit 10 so that the computer can read it. The communication device 1 (or CPU or MPU) may read and execute the program code recorded on the supplied recording medium.

  The recording medium for supplying the program code to the communication device 1 is, for example, a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, or a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-. A disk system including an optical disk such as R, a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) / optical card, or a semiconductor memory system such as a mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM can be used.

  Even if the communication device 1 is configured to be connectable to a communication network, the object of the present invention can be achieved. In this case, the program code is supplied to the communication device 1 via the communication network. The communication network is not limited to a specific type or form as long as it can supply the program code to the communication device 1. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, mobile communication network, satellite communication network, etc. may be used.

  The transmission medium constituting the communication network may be any medium that can transmit the program code, and is not limited to a specific configuration or type. For example, wired communication such as IEEE 1394, USB (Universal Serial Bus), power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line, infrared light such as IrDA or remote control, Bluetooth (registered trademark), 802. 11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, etc. can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  Since the communication device of the present invention changes the screen display direction according to the shape, but the operability is improved over the conventional communication device in which the key display does not change, it can be applied to the manufacturing and sales field of communication devices. it can.

1, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a communication device 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention and explaining a key display unit 21. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, which is performed from when a power source is turned on until the power source is turned off, for updating the direction in which an image is displayed on the key display unit 21 according to its current shape. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device 1. FIG. (A) And (b) is a figure for demonstrating the direction which the mobile telephone apparatus 1a displays an image on the key display part 21, respectively when the mobile telephone apparatus 1a takes the shape which can take the said shape. is there. (A) And (b) is a figure for demonstrating the direction which the mobile telephone apparatus 1b displays an image on the key display part 21, respectively, when the mobile telephone apparatus 1b can take the shape which can take the said shape. is there.

Explanation of symbols

1 Communication device 1a Mobile phone device (communication device)
1b Sliding mobile phone device (communication device)
10 Control Unit 11 Display Control Unit (Display Control Unit)
12 Shape detection unit (detection means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Instruction detection part 20 Operation input part 20a Numeric keypad part 20b QWERTY keyboard part 21 Key display part 30 Display part

Claims (4)

A communication device including a hard key capable of changing display content, and a detecting means for detecting a change in its own shape,
A communication apparatus comprising: a display control unit that updates the direction of the display content according to the shape after the change when the detection unit detects the change. A first casing having the hard key and a display unit; and a second casing movable in a direction substantially parallel to the first casing;
When the detection means detects that the second casing has moved in the substantially parallel direction to the open state, the display control means changes the direction of the display content to the movement of the second casing. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is changed in a direction. An operation key display control method for a communication device provided with a hard key capable of changing display contents and a detecting means for detecting a change in its own shape,
An operation key display control method comprising: a display control step of updating the direction of the display content according to the shape after the change when the detecting means detects the change.   An operation key display control program for operating the communication device according to claim 1 or 2 for causing a computer to function as each of the above means.

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